The new 55th Annual Big Rock program has been delivered to your favorite marina, restaurant, hotel and retailer! Please be sure to patronize all Big Rock sponsors while visiting Carteret County and beyond!

According to Crystal Hesmer, Tournament Director with the Big Rock Marlin Tournament, East Carolina Council, BSA with offices in Kinston, NC has been awarded a $75,000 grant to build a land based pirate ship at Camp Sam Hatcher located at Newport, NC. The grant from the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament will be matched by East Carolina Council, BSA with an additional $75,000. Read more »

The 54th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament turned into a one-day shootout Friday as rough offshore conditions made it difficult to catch billfish on the second-to-last day of the competition.

While 15 boats indicated their intention to head offshore Friday, officials at Big Rock headquarters could only confirm that three boats actually went offshore. No billfish were hooked or released. Conditions at times were brutal as winds gusted up to 35 knots. At times, the sea state was rougher than Thursday when a Nor’easter initialy churned up 7-to-10 foot seas in Big Rock’s fishing grounds. Read more »

The second half of the 54th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament kicked off Thursday with a harsh weather forecast and competitors found it even rougher than expected when they reached the Gulf Stream 60 miles offshore.

Anglers on 72 boats managed just four billfish releases (three white marlins and a blue marlin) as a Nor’easter churned up 7-to-10 foot seas in Big Rock’s fishing grounds. The gusty winds made trolling difficult and simultaneously knocked down a super billfish bite that had been hot since before the competition began. Read more »